Krishna Janmashtami holds significant importance to Krishnaites as well as Hindus around the world, and it is celebrated in diverse forms depending on their regional and cultural customs. Some mandirs organize recitation of
Bhagavad Gita in the days leading up to Janmashtami. Many northern Indian communities organize dance-drama events called
Rasa Lila or
Krishna Lila. People decorate their houses with flowers and light. On this day, people chant "Hare Krishna hare Krishna, Krishna- Krishna Hare Hare". The Janmashtami celebration is followed by
Dahi Handi, which is celebrated the next day. After Krishna's midnight hour birth, forms of baby Krishna are bathed and clothed, then placed in a cradle. The devotees then break their fast by sharing food and sweets. Women draw tiny footprints outside their house doors and kitchen, walking towards their house, a symbolism for Krishna's journey into their homes. The festival typically falls as the monsoons in north India have begun retreating, fields laden with crops and rural communities have time to play. In the northern states, Janmashtami is celebrated with the
Raslila tradition, which literally means "play (Lila) of delight, essence (Rasa)". This is expressed as solo or group dance and drama events at Janmashtami, wherein Krishna related compositions are sung, music accompanies the performance, while actors and audience share and celebrate the performance by clapping hands to mark the beat. The Braj basha poems of
Surdas (collectively known as the
Sursagar) are popularly recalled, some of which describe the birth and childhood of Krishna. (meaning Vrat dedicated to Thakur i.e. Shri Krishna). Observing a
Phalaahari Vrat for complete one day is the major ritual in the festival. The day is marked by numerous
Phalaahari Dhaams or
Bhandaras in the streets of Jammu region's prominent towns. Janmashtami marks the beginning of the kite-flying season in the Jammu region whereby locals gather and fly decorated kites from their rooftops. While on the other hand, girls and women decorate their palms by applying
Teera, dye of an indigenous plant.
Maharashtra Janmashtami (popularly known as "Dahi Handii" in
Maharashtra) is celebrated in cities such as
Mumbai,
Latur,
Nagpur and
Pune. It is common practice for youth groups to celebrate the festival by participating in
Dahi Handi, which involves hanging a clay pot, filled with buttermilk, at a significant height. The spilled contents are considered as
prasada (celebratory offering). It is a public spectacle, cheered and welcomed as a community event.
Gujarat and Rajasthan In
Dwarka, Gujarat – where Krishna is believed to have established his kingdom – people celebrate the festival with a tradition similar to
Dahi Handi, called
Makhan Handi (pot with freshly churned butter). Others perform folk dances such and
garba and
raas, sing
bhajans, and visit Krishna temples such as at the
Dwarkadhish Temple or
Nathdwara. In the
Kutch district region, farmers decorate their bullock carts and take out Krishna processions, with group singing and dancing. The day is of special importance to followers of the
Pushtimarg and the
Swaminarayan movement. The works of Gujarati poets,
Narsinh Mehta (1414–1480 c.e.),
Dayaram (1777–1852) and Rajasthani poet
Mirabai (c.1500), are popularly revisited and sung during Janmashtami. Their works are categorized as part of the
bhakti tradition, or devotional poetry dedicated to Krishna. Reciting from the
Bhagavad Gita is also a popular practice. The offerings made to Krishna include fruits, betel and butter. Milk-based items, such as sweet
seedai and
verkadalai urundai, are prepared. The festival is celebrated in the evening as Krishna was born at midnight. Most people observe a strict fast on this day.
Eastern and Northeastern India Janmashtami is widely celebrated by Krishnaite and Hindu Vaishnava communities of eastern and northeastern India. The widespread tradition of celebrating Krishna in these regions is credited to the efforts and teachings of 15th and 16th century
Sankardeva and
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sankardeva introduced the musical composition,
Borgeet, and dance-drama styles –
Ankia Naat and
Sattriya - that is now popular in West Bengal and Assam. In Manipur state, a traditional dance -
Raas Leela - inspired by the theme of love and devotion between Krishna, Radha and the gopis, is enacted using the Manipuri dance style. The contextual roots of these dance drama arts are found in the ancient text
Natya Shastra, but with influences from the culture fusion between India and southeast Asia. '' in
Manipuri dance style On Janmashtami, parents dress up their children as Krishna or the gopis. Temples and community centers are decorated with regional flowers and leaves, while groups recite or listen to the tenth chapter of the
Bhagavata Purana, and the
Bhagavata Gita. Dancers performing
Raslila are a notable annual tradition during Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan. Children play the
Likol Sannaba game in the Meetei Krishnaite community. The
Shree Govindajee Temple and the ISKCON temples particularly mark the Janmashtami festival. Janmashtami is celebrated in Assam at homes, in community centers called
Namghars (Assamese: নামঘৰ). According to the tradition, the devotees sing the
Nam, perform pujas and sharing food and
Prasada. People celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and worship until midnight. The
Bhagavata Purana is recited from the 10th chapter, a section dedicated to the life of
Krishna. The next day is called "Nanda Ucchhaba" or the joyous celebration of Krishna's foster parents
Nanda and
Yashoda. Devotees keep
fasting during the entire day of Janmashtami. They bring water from
Ganga to bathe Radha Madhaba during their abhisheka ceremony. A grand abhisheka is performed at midnight for the small Radha Madha. In Odisha, the Jagannath Temple in Puri, best known for its grand
Ratha Yatra celebrations, perform a
Ratha Yatra during Janmashtami. ==Outside India==